People in Hartland are surveying the charred remains of the Covered Bridge Potato Chip plant, a major employer in the western New Brunswick town.
Firefighters sprayed water and moved debris with an excavator on Saturday, working to fully extinguish hot spots from Friday’s fire.
Mayor Tracey DeMerchant said the loss of the business is tough for the small community. She said the plant employed 75 to 100 people and also benefited local truckers and farmers.
“This is a big loss for everyone,” she said. “We cannot extend enough sympathy and support to the Albright family.”
DeMerchant said she’s spoken to friends who worked at the plant and they are devastated. She said the business is an important part of the community and the town has reached out to the owners to offer their support.
“Our hope is that they can build again,” she said.
WATCH / Hartland mayor reacts to ‘devastating’ chip factory fire
Mayor Tracey DeMerchant says Hartland, N.B., is ‘resilient and optimistic’ after a fire tore through the Covered Bridge Potato Chips factory on Friday.
Tammey McLean was one of several people who came to survey the damage. She said the company was important to the region, both as an employer and a supporter of the community.
“Everything is gone,” she said. “It was quite shocking.”
McLean said she’s talked to some employees who are “pretty upset” and worried about their jobs. She went out to buy a few bags of chips after the fire in case supplies ran out.
“There’s good community spirit here, I know people will take care of their own. Hopefully, they’ll rebuild and people will get back to work,” she said.
Covered Bridge was started by Matt and Ryan Albright as a potato distribution company in 2004, before expanding to potato chip manufacturing in 2009, according to the company’s website. Covered Bridge gained attention for creating “storm chips,” cashing in on the social media trend of Maritimers stocking up on chips before a storm.
‘It’s heartbreaking’
Flames quickly tore through the plant near the Trans-Canada Highway on Friday. Residents reported thick smoke spreading across the St. John River Valley.
Roy Reid, assistant chief of the Hartland Fire Department, said the call about the fire came on Friday at around 5:45 p.m. The building was quickly engulfed in flames.
“After about half an hour the roof collapsed,” he said. “We couldn’t save it.”
Reid said there were about 25 firefighters on scene with support from several other nearby departments. Several continued to work to extinguish the last of the fire well into Saturday, using an excavator.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Debbie Brosser, a resident of the nearby community of Rockland, said she was on her deck Friday evening when she saw smoke coming from the direction of the plant. She said she knows an employee and the family.
“It’s a big part of this community. A lot of people have lost their jobs. It’s heartbreaking,” she said.
“It’s just devastating for everybody.”